Hand wand for ultrasonic cosmetic treatment and imaging

• US 10,537,304 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulthera Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Original Assignee: Ulthera Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Inventors: Barthe, Peter G., Slayton, Michael H., Makin, Inder Raj S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohammed, Shahdeep
• Application Number:
  US12/996,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,882 Days
• Field of Search: 600437-463, 601 1, 601 2
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2019/0033 Processes for treating the scalp
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2044/007 Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4438 Means for identifying the diagnostic device, e.g. barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 : characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/468 : allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 : for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 : Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 : Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/352 : by moving the transducer

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a dermatological cosmetic treatment and imaging system and method. In some embodiments, the system (20) includes a hand wand (100) with at least one finger activated controller (150, 160), and a removable transducer module (200) having an ultrasound transducer (280). In some embodiments, the system (20) can include a control module (300) that is coupled to the hand wand (100) and has a graphical user interface (310) for controlling the removable transducer module (200), and an interface (130) coupling the hand wand (100) to the control module (300). The interface (130) may provide power to the hand wand or may transfer a signal from the hand wand to the control module. In some embodiments, the cosmetic treatment system (20) may be used in cosmetic procedures on at least a portion of a face, head, neck, and/or other part of a patient.

Claims

1. A hand wand for use in cosmetic treatment, the wand comprising:

a handle comprising an integrated receptacle configured for insertion of at least one of a first removable transducer module and a second removable transducer module, and an electrical cable,

wherein said first removable transducer module and second removable transducer module are configured for interchangeable coupling to the handle with a spring pin connector,

wherein the first removable transducer module comprises;

a first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element configured to focus ultrasound at a first depth in a range between 3 mm and 4.5 mm below a skin surface with a first treatment frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz at a first acoustic power in a range of 1 watt to 100 watts,

a first printed circuit board configured for electrical connection to the spring pin connector, and

a first storage device containing data for calibration or storage in a first sealed housing,

the first sealed housing comprising a first acoustic fluid and a first acoustically transparent window,

wherein the first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element is acoustically coupled to the first acoustically transparent window via the first acoustic fluid in the first sealed housing,

wherein the second removable transducer module comprises;

a second ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element configured to focus ultrasound at a second depth in a range between 3 mm and 4.5 mm below the skin surface with a second treatment frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz at a second acoustic power in a range of 1 watt to 100 watts,

a second printed circuit board configured for electrical connection to the spring pin connector, and

a second storage device containing data for calibration or storage in a second sealed housing,

the second sealing housing comprising a second acoustic fluid and a second acoustically transparent window, wherein the second ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element is acoustically coupled to the second acoustically transparent window via the second acoustic fluid in the second sealed housing,

a movement mechanism comprising a shaft, a stepper motor, a scotch yoke, and a magnetic coupling, the movement mechanism configured to move at least one of the first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element and the second ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element along the shaft to direct a ultrasonic treatment in a linear sequence of individual thermal lesions,

wherein the movement mechanism further comprises an encoder disposed on the shaft, the encoder configured for measuring a position of the first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element along the shaft in the first sealed housing,

an image button on the handle operably controlling an ultrasonic imaging piezoelectric element for providing ultrasonic imaging on a display,

wherein the display comprises a graphical user interface,

wherein the graphical user interface displays any one of the group of an operating condition, equipment status, and a system message;

a treatment button on the handle operably controlling said first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element when the first removable transducer module is coupled to the handle to provide a first ultrasonic treatment function for providing a first ultrasonic treatment with the first removable transducer module at a first depth configured for treatment in at least one of the group consisting of;

skin, superficial muscular aponeurotic system (“

SMAS”

), or fat,

wherein the treatment button on the handle is configured for operably controlling said second ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element when the second removable transducer module is coupled to the handle to provide a second ultrasonic treatment function for providing a second ultrasonic treatment with the second removable transducer module at a second depth configured for treatment in at least one of the group consisting of;

skin, SMAS, or fat;

wherein said first depth is different than said second depth, and

wherein said first removable transducer module and second removable transducer module are configured to be operably coupled to said image button and said treatment button,

wherein the movement mechanism is configured for travel through a liquid-tight seal,

wherein the movement mechanism moves the first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element when the first removable transducer module is coupled to the handle, and

wherein the movement mechanism moves the second ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element when the second removable transducer module is coupled to the handle.

2. The hand wand of claim 1, further comprising a third removable transducer module comprising:

a third ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element configured to focus ultrasound at a third depth in a range of 1.5 mm to 2 mm below the skin surface with a third treatment frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz at a third acoustic power in a range of 1 watt to 100 watts,

a third printed circuit board configured for electrical connection to the spring pin connector, and

a third storage device containing data for calibration or storage in a third sealed housing,

the third sealing housing comprising a third acoustic fluid and a third acoustically transparent window, wherein the third ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element is acoustically coupled to the third acoustically transparent window via the third acoustic fluid in the third sealed housing.

3. The hand wand according to claim 1, wherein said first removable transducer module and second removable transducer module are configured to provide treatment at different depths below the skin surface.

4. The hand wand of claim 1, wherein at least one of the image button and the treatment button is connected to a microprocessor for activating said first removable transducer module and second removable transducer module.

5. The hand wand of claim 1, wherein the scotch yoke comprises a slot to interface with a pin attached to the stepper motor as the pin moves in a circular path to linearly move the first ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element.

6. A wand for use in cosmetic treatment, the wand comprising:

a first button on said wand operably controlling an imaging function;

a second button on said wand operably controlling a treatment function;

a movement mechanism,

an integrated receptacle comprising a spring pin connector, and

a removable transducer module comprising;

a printed circuit board configured for electrical connection to the spring pin connector operably coupled to said wand at the integrated receptacle,

a sealed housing comprising an acoustically transparent window

an acoustic fluid, and

an ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element

wherein said ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element is contained with the sealed housing and is configured for acoustic coupling to the acoustically transparent window via the acoustic fluid,

wherein the ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element is configured to focus ultrasound at a depth in a range between 3 mm and 4.5 mm below a skin surface with a treatment frequency in a range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz at an acoustic power in a range of 1 watt to 100 watts,

wherein the movement mechanism moves the ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element inside the removable transducer module along a shaft when the removable transducer module is coupled to the handle,

wherein the movement mechanism comprises a stepper motor, a scotch yoke, and a magnetic coupling, the movement mechanism configured to direct a ultrasonic treatment in a linear sequence of individual thermal lesions,

wherein the movement mechanism further comprises an encoder provided along the shaft, the encoder being configured to measure a position of the ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element along the shaft in the sealed housing.

7. The wand according to claim 6, wherein said ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element in the removable transducer module is coupled to said second button.

8. The wand according to claim 6, further comprising a latch mechanism removably holding said removable transducer module in said wand.

9. The wand according to claim 6, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a clutch rod and the magnetic coupling comprises a magnetic tip in the clutch rod are configured to move the ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element to create a series of separated ablative lesions under the skin surface.

10. The wand according to claim 9, further comprising a graphical user interface for controlling said removable transducer module, and wherein the scotch yoke further comprises a slot comprises a slot to interface with a pin attached to the stepper motor as the pin moves in a circular path to move the ultrasonic treatment piezoelectric element to form the linear sequence of the individual thermal coagulation points in the tissue for the cosmetic effect.